Ol’ Dutch and Miss Trixie have been on a two year adventure building a house as most of you know.  An adventure it has been and we've persevered through it all. It's not done but at least we are moved in and have one bathroom, a working kitchen plus heating and cooling so it's quite a few steps above a tent.  

Speaking of which, Miss Trixie, her gorgeous self, has remarked often that she would be willing to live in a canvas abode with me if need be. And in fact, she finds that to be quite comfortable. I think she needs to be checked out honestly. But she has been to Mount Everest several times and she is of a much tougher mettle than Ol’ Dutch. For me, a camper with all the amenities is still really roughing it.  

While working on the railroad, I had my fill of seedy hotels and flop houses aka company housing. It had a permanent effect on me and now I prefer something a little more comfortable. Even our little camper has a memory foam mattress with a massive down comforter on it so Ol’ Dutch is snug as a bug in a rug if and when he stays in it. Which isn't often.  

One famous axiom that always tends to be quoted when building anything cautions to "Measure twice, cut once.” And for those of you that have done any amount of DYI construction or even hobby work, you probably have real life experience of it. It is supposed to keep a person from making a cutting mistake that cannot be taken back.  

In this last endeavor at building, I noticed that I was starting to make bad cuts and so I have begun writing down the measurement before going outside to cut the board. This was especially true when installing the baseboard and window trim as somewhere between the measuring and the cutting, loose thoughts would enter my head and steal away the correct number.  

Miss Trixie attributes that to my advanced age and addled brains but I think that Ol’ Dutch just has so much going on up in the old noggin that it all gets mixed together. I mean who can keep a measurement like that straight when walking between the house and the saw? When I walk out of the house, I am greeted by a great view, thoughts of fishing, four cows wanting to be petted and Miss Trixie asking me questions to which I have no answers.  

Who wouldn't get confused with all that going on up in the old cranial space? I recall my Dad becoming concerned about his memory as he aged and he asked the doctor if he should be worried. He told the doctor he misplaced his keys. The doctor told him that he is fine as long as when said keys were found, my Dad knew what they were for. 

Ol’ Dutch definitely passes that test as it seems like we run here and there to soccer games, rodeos and other things and I always find the car and know where I am going.  

Currently we are trying to build some fancy book cases for all the books to display. I hate to admit it but I cut some boards that I wished I hadn't now. I tried the board stretcher but alas, that's just not going to work, I guess.  

So from now on, Ol’ Dutch must advance to the “measure three times and cut once” just to be sure. 

Kevin Kirkpatrick spends his days fishing, hunting, ATVing, hiking or making people laugh. His email is Kevin@TroutRepublic.com. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com or on Twitter at TroutRepublic.